Supporting Yourself While Helping Your Child

Being a parent supporting a child through personalised hypnosis sessions can bring its own challenges and emotions. Taking care of yourself is essential for providing the best support for your child.

Managing Your Own Expectations

Realistic Timeline Expectations:

• Changes typically occur gradually over several weeks
• Some children respond quickly, others take longer
• Progress isn’t always linear - expect some ups and downs
• Dramatic overnight changes are rare and not necessarily better

What Success Looks Like:

• Subtle improvements in behaviour or mood
• Better ability to cope with challenging situations
• Increased confidence in specific areas
• More peaceful bedtimes or better sleep patterns

When You Feel Impatient:

• Remember that deep, lasting change takes time
• Focus on small improvements rather than complete transformation
• Trust the process even when progress seems slow
• Consider keeping a simple progress journal

Dealing with Your Own Anxiety

Common Parent Worries:

• “Is this working for my child?”
• “Am I doing something wrong?”
• “Should I be seeing faster results?”
• “What if my child never improves?”

Managing These Concerns:

• Remind yourself that you’re providing valuable support
• Focus on what you can control (consistency, environment)
• Avoid comparing your child’s progress to others
• Seek support from other parents or professionals when needed

Signs You May Need Support:

• Feeling overwhelmed by your child’s challenges
• Constant worry about their progress
• Difficulty maintaining patience with the process
• Impact on your own sleep, mood, or relationships

Maintaining Perspective During Difficult Periods

When Your Child Resists:

• Remember that resistance is often temporary
• Don’t take their resistance personally
• Consider whether they’re going through other stresses
• Maintain calm, supportive approach without forcing

During Setbacks:

• Temporary regression is normal during growth
• External stresses can temporarily affect progress
• Illness, school changes, or family stress can impact results
• Continue sessions consistently through challenging periods

When You Feel Like Giving Up:

• Reach out to our clinic for guidance and support
• Talk to other parents who’ve used hypnosis sessions
• Remember why you started this journey
• Consider taking a short break if feeling overwhelmed

Supporting Your Relationship with Your Child

Avoiding Over-Focus on Issues:

• Don’t let sessions become the only topic of conversation
• Maintain normal parent-child activities and interactions
• Celebrate your child’s strengths and positive qualities
• Keep perspective on their overall development and happiness

Communication Strategies:

• Listen without immediately trying to fix problems
• Validate their feelings while staying positive about progress
• Avoid interrogating about session experiences
• Share your confidence in their ability to grow and change

Practical Self-Care Strategies

Daily Wellbeing:

• Maintain your own healthy routines and habits
• Ensure you’re getting adequate sleep and nutrition
• Make time for activities you enjoy
• Stay connected with supportive friends and family

Stress Management:

• Practice relaxation techniques yourself
• Consider your own meditation or mindfulness practice
• Exercise regularly to manage stress and maintain energy
• Seek professional support if you’re feeling overwhelmed

Boundary Setting:

• Don’t let your child’s issues consume all family time
• Maintain attention and activities for other family members
• Set realistic limits on research and worry time
• Remember that you can’t control your child’s progress directly

Building Your Support Network

Professional Support:

• Maintain relationship with your child’s GP
• Consider parent counselling if feeling overwhelmed
• Connect with school counsellors or support staff
• Don’t hesitate to contact our clinic with questions

Peer Support:

• Connect with other parents facing similar challenges
• Join online forums or local support groups
• Share experiences with trusted friends or family
• Remember that many parents face these challenges

Family Support:

• Communicate with your partner about sharing responsibilities
• Ensure extended family understands your approach
• Create team approach rather than carrying burden alone
• Celebrate small victories together

When Other Family Members Are Affected

Supporting Siblings:

• Ensure other children don’t feel neglected
• Explain age-appropriately why their sibling needs extra support
• Maintain individual attention and activities
• Consider family counselling if tensions develop

Partner Relationship:

• Maintain open communication about approaches and concerns
• Share responsibilities for supporting your child
• Make time for your relationship outside of parenting challenges
• Seek couples support if disagreements about approaches arise

Recognising Your Positive Impact

What You’re Providing:

• Consistent, loving support for your child’s growth
• Safe environment for positive change
• Advocacy for your child’s wellbeing needs
• Valuable tools and resources for their development

Long-Term Benefits:

• Teaching your child that challenges can be addressed
• Showing them that seeking help is positive and normal
• Building foundation for lifelong emotional wellness
• Demonstrating unconditional love and support

When to Seek Additional Support for Yourself

Consider Professional Help If:

• Your worry about your child is affecting your daily functioning
• You’re experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns
• Relationship tensions are developing due to your child’s issues
• You feel isolated or overwhelmed by parenting challenges

Types of Support Available:

• Individual counselling for parent stress and anxiety
• Parenting support groups or classes
• Family therapy to improve communication and relationships
• Your own GP for physical and mental health support

Remember Your Strengths

You Are:

• Providing your child with professional-quality support tools
• Demonstrating commitment to their wellbeing and growth
• Learning and adapting to meet their changing needs
• Building resilience and coping skills in your family

Trust Yourself:

• You know your child better than anyone
• Your instincts about their needs are usually accurate
• You’re capable of supporting them through challenges
• You’re already taking positive steps by using these sessions

Remember, supporting a child through growth and change is one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of parenting. By taking care of yourself, you’re ensuring you can provide the best possible support for your child’s journey toward positive change.

You don’t have to be perfect - just present, consistent, and caring. That’s exactly what your child needs from you during this process.